A unique and distinctive culture emerges from the Burning Man experience. Rooted in the values expressed by the Ten Principles, this culture is manifested around the globe through art, communal effort, and innumerable individual acts of self-expression. To many, it is a way of life.

I am personally responsibe for scheduling all those happy shiny people that caffeinate and entertain the masses 24/7 behind the Cafe Counter at the event, and happen to know that by filling out the volunteer questionaire (see link above) your info, experience, and interests will get zapped directly to the person or persons who can hook you up with the on-playa volunteer opportunity of your dreams.

Here's some info:

* Cafe counter shifts include cashiers, baristas, runners, and criers.
* Shifts are 4 hours long, and start at 3, 7, and 11 around the clock.
* Volunteers do NOT get into the event for free.

there are a couple of threads out there for discussing one's opinions of the cafe. i tried to find one for you, but they've all gotten pretty buried. you could even start one over in 'Politics & Philosophy'. this one is for folks interested in participating.

I probably don't know the finer points of searching, but I could find nothing for
"center camp" (do quotes do anything in eplaya searches?)
or
center and camp
or
center or camp

.... all that seems to come up are all posts in Politics in descending order.

TISHA 2:
I know the topics exist, could you (or someone savy) help find 'em? I don't really want to start a new one, 'cause I'm sure my concern is in some thread out there, and I'd like to read the responses...

Hey Tisha, any luck with those Center Camp Cafe financial reports? I'm still wondering how an all cash business with no competition, charging premium prices, and with an all volunteer labor force can manage to "just break even".

Chai Guy wrote:Hey Tisha, any luck with those Center Camp Cafe financial reports? I'm still wondering how an all cash business with no competition, charging premium prices, and with an all volunteer labor force can manage to "just break even".

Ummm... Chai, last I checked, Cafe workers got paid not to mention full to partial ticket rembursments if you work things right...

Chai Guy wrote:Hey Tisha, any luck with those Center Camp Cafe financial reports? I'm still wondering how an all cash business with no competition, charging premium prices, and with an all volunteer labor force can manage to "just break even".

Ummm... Chai, last I checked, Cafe workers got paid not to mention full to partial ticket rembursments if you work things right...

Badger

hey Badger -

not sure where you checked, but actually, cafe volunteers do NOT get paid - hardly anyone creating Black Rock City does - and a very few partial reimbursements have been offered to long-time rock-star volunteers who work nearly every day of the event.
Chai is asking me about total numbers, which have been very hard to come by, showing that the cafe income goes right back to pay for the coffee supplies, machines, servicing & setup crew, as well as the center camp tent itself, and everything in it, from rugs and couches, to rigging and lumber, to stages, sound systems, lighting, and all the professionals necessary to setup and run such things.
Again - there are other forums to discuss these things, but i think potential volunteers might want to know that while that specific breakdown is not in the published budgets here on the website, that is the answer i get every time i go one more step up the ladder of cafe/event management with the question. And knowing a few things about retail and production management, as well as being privy to the inner workings of center camp for several years now, it makes perfect sense to me. There are a *buttload* of expenses to run center camp. The "profits" of coffee sales (income after the costs of bringing, setting up, and serving coffee in the middle of the desert - let's not forget transportation and refrigeration costs) might just be enough to rig a giant circus tent, furnish it, supply it with fully functioning performance stages with sound and lighting systems, and pay for the electricity to run all that and keep it all running non-stop for a week.
the cafe, and the entire city, relies on volunteers to make it happen. the cafe sprang up out of early burns where there was no organized city - just folks camped wherever - and they wanted a central gathering spot, so someone set up a coffee truck. that central gathering spot has grown right along with the rest of the city. for many of us, it has been a place of respite (my then 4yo would have not made it thru all those dust storms in 2000 without the safe haven of center camp), a place to rest, meet, gather, and venture forth from. not to mention a town hall of sorts - when the news of Katrina made it to Black Rock last year, the cafe was used as a central meeting place, donation center, and info outpost, along with Playa Info.
just like everything else at burning man (and, hey! in life!), if you don't like it, you don't have to participate. but there are *hundreds* of hot and happy volunteers that come back to play with us at the cafe year after year. and we hear over and over that it's their "burning man hightlight". it's a great way to meet people, and to have something incredibly social and fun to center one's experience on.

*cocks eyebrow*
Not only was I saying you're right, but I was speaking nicely. If any offence was taken, even after re-reading my reply, I don't see it.

As for my campmates, I decline to offer them up in a conversation that does not involve them. Plus I see no reason to anyway. I'll leave it at some of them were first time people, others have a few years under thier belt, and even one other helps run things. So I'd say they span the whole range of experience of time at the Cafe.

i guess the 'LMAO' sounded a bit...mocking. my apologies if i misunderstood.

there are a couple of 'clans' of cafe workers that camp together and help each other out - i might even know who you mean! by far, most of the fine folks behind the counter are volunteering for a shift or two to keep their week grounded and give something to the city while having a great time! anyone else interested?

tisha2 wrote:i guess the 'LMAO' sounded a bit...mocking. my apologies if i misunderstood.

there are a couple of 'clans' of cafe workers that camp together and help each other out - i might even know who you mean! by far, most of the fine folks behind the counter are volunteering for a shift or two to keep their week grounded and give something to the city while having a great time! anyone else interested?

nighty-night!~tisha2

No No... That was me laughing at myself for such a dumb mistake. Sorry about the misunderstanding.

Dept. of Corruptions was my group. Graham wasn't a campmate, but he was there often enough that he might as well have been. I think I was the only person not working cafe in that group. lol

And to everyone else reading all this, allow my humble plug for the Cafe. If you're looking for a group to work with to give a little back to BM, you'll be hard pressed to find a better, cooler, nicer group of people. Dare I say you'll even have some fun too!

Remember wandering into Center Camp and seeing that vision of togetherness and beauty and connection that is the Cafe?? Ever wondered just how to go about becoming a part of that sexy sexy scene??

Right here baby: [url]http://www2.burningman.com/people/[/url]

I am personally responsibe for scheduling all those happy shiny people that caffeinate and entertain the masses 24/7 behind the Cafe Counter at the event, and happen to know that by filling out the volunteer questionaire (see link above) your info, experience, and interests will get zapped directly to the person or persons who can hook you up with the on-playa volunteer opportunity of your dreams.

Here's some info:

* Cafe counter shifts include cashiers, baristas, runners, and criers.
* Shifts are 4 hours long, and start at 3, 7, and 11 around the clock.
* Volunteers do NOT get into the event for free.

Questions? Concerns? Interesting theories? Post 'em here.

If you're ready to get involved for real...go fill out that form!!!

*kisskiss*
~tisha2

edited to fix the damn url ... i am not the geek i think i am[/quote]

Hello Tisha,

This is my first Burning Man and I would like to get involved as a volunteer at Center Camp Cafe. I have just filled out the Volunteer Questionaire. My name is Ross, by the way.

Hi Ross!! welcome to cafe land!! all those questionaires are flowing into my inbox, and i'll be responding in the coming weeks!! be patient...we are working out some minor changes in the scheduling system, and don't want to start email communications until we know exactly what we want to communicate! soon, my dears....soon.

hi, i'm interested in volunteering. i sent in a questionaire but i wasn curious as to what.... like.... progress has been made. what shifts are open, if ya'll still need help, what i can do to get a little more hands on then heating up some soy mocha love love.
i worked last year and brought the baileys. i can do it again if ya like.
let me know, thanks
mallory kate mishler the third

tisha2 wrote:Howdy kids!!

Remember wandering into Center Camp and seeing that vision of togetherness and beauty and connection that is the Cafe?? Ever wondered just how to go about becoming a part of that sexy sexy scene??

I am personally responsibe for scheduling all those happy shiny people that caffeinate and entertain the masses 24/7 behind the Cafe Counter at the event, and happen to know that by filling out the volunteer questionaire (see link above) your info, experience, and interests will get zapped directly to the person or persons who can hook you up with the on-playa volunteer opportunity of your dreams.

Here's some info:

* Cafe counter shifts include cashiers, baristas, runners, and criers. * Shifts are 4 hours long, and start at 3, 7, and 11 around the clock. * Volunteers do NOT get into the event for free.

for some reason, this year we are experiencing a slight shortage of barristas for the cafe...if you or someone you love knows how to pull a shot and pile a perfect foam, hie thee to the volunteer pages!!:

for some reason, this year we are experiencing a slight shortage of barristas for the cafe...if you or someone you love knows how to pull a shot and pile a perfect foam, hie thee to the volunteer pages!!:

as for 'this late date' - i will be taking questionaires and filliing shifts until we have at least 800 of the 1200 total shifts filled. I'm at about 550 right now, with 30 shift requests in my inbox. I would say get your info to me NO LATER THAN the 7th of August, cuz after that I'll be too busy packing!